If you own a private jet (Nigerian) or flying into Nigeria with one, please read this.

Punchonline carried the news that, barely three months after unveiling a new policy for general aviation, which barred private jet owners from carrying their friends and associates, the Federal Government has stopped private jet owners and chartered jet operators from using the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos for foreign travels.

The order, which has taken effect, was conveyed through a memo from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to the heads of all the security agencies operating at the MMIA.

As a result, private jet owners and chartered jet passengers travelling out and coming into the country will now go through the required security screening, including that of the Immigration, Customs, narcotics control and the State Security Service at the MMIA.

Heads of security agencies were also instructed to deploy personnel to a privately-owned Fixed Base Operation facility to conduct the necessary checks on the private jet owners and passengers before and after foreign trips.

However, stakeholders, especially private jet owners and chartered jet operators, have opposed the order, saying the development would lead to higher cost of operations.

The operators claimed that the directive would increase the cost of owning and operating private jets as the use of a private facility instead of the government-owned MMIA before embarking on foreign travels would lead to the escalation of their costs.

Some operators have also accused FAAN of conniving with the operator of the FBO to rip off private jet owners and chartered jet operators.

A chartered jet operator, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said, “I think this is an unfair deal. Why should we all be forced to leave the international terminal to a private facility? This is not best practice any where in the world for the government to force operators to be patronising only one Fixed Base Operation.

“What is wrong with our present arrangement? Is this free to us all or this will be an additional cost to our already strained budget? No consultation whatsoever from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria on this before the implementation. There are so many questions. Is this another ‘food for the boys’ arrangement? This is so unfair.”

If this law is geared toward checking people for illegal drugs and other security measures, it would make a lot of sense, we don't want people bringing in arms into the country, but I don't think that's the only reason and it cannot be for economic gains either. Nigeria does not have a National carrier, so except the FBO is working hand in hand with the Federal Government, I don't see what else would make any sense. 
But that too doesn't make sense, except the decision was politically motivated.

Nigerians have a right to know  why our government is taking these unfriendly measures. I support the checks and am sure the Federal Government knows what they are doing.